Circuit-closing device for automobiles



June 1, ma. 1,587,489

. SCHMITH CIRCUIT CLOSING' DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES .:Eil'nl l 'In l.

Filed August 8, 1923 r um Hill f/ z y 32???? UHHHHI Patented .lune l,i925.

assises :staar orifice.

BALDINI SCHMITI-I, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT-CLOSING DEVCE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed August 8, 11923K. Serial No. 656,367.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel form ot'circuit closing device for automobiles and more particularly for use inconnection with the drivers seat.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing,but the important instruinentalities thereof may be varied, and so it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificdetails shown and described, as longas they are within the scope of theclaim.

Figure 1 represents a partial elevation and a partial vertical sectionoi' an auto theft alarm embodying` `my invention, the

eat ot the vehicle being in raised position.

Figure 2 represents a top plan view thereof omitting the seat. y

Figures 3, 4L and 5 represent vertical sections showing certain membersof the invention in different positions.

Figure G represents a portion of the top et a box employed showing a1Keyhole therein.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in theigures.

mitting ot' the raising and lowering of said seat. To said frame issecured the box 3 which is located below said seat and adapted to havethe bottom 4L of the latter when lowered 'to rest on the top 5 of saidbox, as most plainly shown in Figures 3 and 1.

To the bottom of the seat is secured the sleeve 6 which extends invertical direction and is adapted to enter the seat and move with thesame while being raised and lowered.

Gn the bottom 2 of the seat isvthe latch plate 7 which is pivoted at oneend on the bott-om of the seat and located adjacent to the sleeve 6,said plate being adapted when moved laterally in one direction to closethe base of the opening 8 in said sleeve, as shown in Figures 1 and 3,and when moved in the other direction to uncover said opening as shownin dotted lines n Figure 1, and in full lines Figure i.

In the box 3 is the switch mechanism consisting of the rockers 9 on theends of which are contact pieces 10 which are adapted to engage oppositecontact pieces 11 which latter are supported on the standards 12 withinthe box. To said standards are secured by the binding screws 12 theconductors 13 and 14: leading respectively to the battery 15 and thebell 16 in the vehicle.

The switch mechanism in the box is of conventional form and adapted whena circuit'is formed or closed to ring the bell 16 and when the circuitis broken said bell is silent. y p

Viithin the box is the additional rocker or double ended lever 17 whichis mounted on the axial shaft 18 so as to move therewith, it beingnoticed that the rockers are subjected to the action of the spring 19 ofthe switch mechanism, whereby the rockers are returned to the positionfrom which they are thrown.

To one limb of the rocker 17 is pivotally connected thepost 20, the samerising 'therefrom in vertical direction and adapted to pass upwardlythrough the opening 21 in the top 5 of the box 3 and at a certain timeto enter the sleeve or socket 6, see Figure 1. In this position the seat1 may beoccupied by the driver without moving said plug and so theswitch mechanism remains inoperative. 0n the other limb of the rocker 17is the seat or abutment 22 tor the end portion or' the key 23 which maybe passed through the key hole or opening 24 in the top 5 of the box andso engage said abutment to press down and so lower the limb of therocker 17 that carries said abutment 22.

The operation is as follows:-

lVhen the driver stops the vehicle and leaves the seat 1 he raises thelatter and the sleeve 6 is stripped from the post 20. rllhe latch plate7 is then moved over the exposed end ot the sleeve so as to cover theopening therein, as shown lin Figure 1. rlhe driver lowers the seat whenthe stop plate 7 contacts with the top ot' the post 20, the latter beingheld up by the action ot the spring 19, and as it bears against thelatch plate 7 the seat is prevented from fully closing down, as inFigure 5, said spring being sutticiently powerful for the purpose. Thedriver now leaves the vehicle to enter a store. apartment or otherwise.

Should an unauthorized person take possession of the vehicle and occupythe drivers seat his weight will overcome the spring 1S) and so the seatlowers to full extent from that shown in Figure 5 to that shown inFigure 3 when the post 2O is accordingly lowered. This shifts therockers, as shownin Figure 1, the circuit then being formed lUO l lu

whereby the bell 16 rings and this attracts the attention of the ownerif within reach, a trar'iie officer, policeman or others, and indicatesthat the vehicle is about to be stolen or stolen run oli', when it maybe pursued fior recovery and arrest ot the occupant.

lVhen the owner or proper party re-enters the vehicle, he raises theseat, throws back the latch plate, thus uncovering the openingl oi thesleeve inserts-the hey 23 or any push rod through the opening` 2a andengages it with the abutment 22' of the rocker 17 and presses down saidabutment, thus shifting` the switch mechanism raising' the post 2O andbreaking the circuit when the bell ceases to ring. y

The seat is lowered and so the sleeve passes over the topl` ot the postwithout operatingl the .latter and the parts are again in normalposition, as shown in Figure 4.

The bell will be placed in the Vehicle as inaccessible as `possible tothe thief', and otherwise `guarded that it cannot be cut out or removedand otherwise tampered with. it desired, a spring may be employed toraise the seat to a small extent when the owner et the vehicle leavesthe seat, this being' apparent, as in Figure 5.

Having' thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of a ixed lower strueture, forming` the lower part of aconventional vehicle seat, a double pole switch member therein,comprising a pair olf roekers, having` oppositely located forkedterminals, oppositely located pairs ol" upper and lower contactscoasting with said terminalsl for making and breaking a circuit, a shaltlier said rochers, a vertically disposed post pivotcd at its lowei` endsbetween said roclers to said switch member and har' 15,; its upper endguided in the top oi said lower structure, an upper normallyhorizontally disposed, conventional vehicle seat hi p ed lo the rear ollsaid lower structure, a vertically disposed' hollow sleeve in saidhinged mcmber adapted to align with said post when said upper seatmember is down, a latch plate hinged to the bottom of said upper seatii'i'ember and adapted to close the bottoni of the hole in said sleeve,when turned into alignment therewith and an abutment carried by andmovable in unison with said switch member and located between saidrockers on the side of said shaft opposite to said post, said abutmentaligning with a liole in the top oit the fixed lower seat structure andadapted to be depressed by the insertion o'f a key through said hole,when it desired to open the circuit, the closing' ol the circuit and theoperation olf a signallingV device being` ellected when said post is inits lowermost position.

BALDIN SCHMITH.

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